Telecinema facts for kids

The Telecinema was a special movie theater built for the Festival of Britain in 1951. It was located in London, between Waterloo station and the Royal Festival Hall.

This cinema was very popular, attracting nearly 460,000 visitors. Many people wanted to see it but couldn't get in. After the festival ended, people wanted the Telecinema to stay open. So, it was given to the British Film Institute (BFI). It became a special club cinema called the National Film Theatre in October 1952. The National Film Theatre stayed there until 1957, when it moved to a new location.

Designing the Telecinema

The Festival of Britain organizers chose Wells Coates to design this unique building. He was asked to create a place that could show different types of media. This included regular 35mm films, special stereoscopic (3-D) films, and even large-screen television.

Coates designed a grey, rectangular building. It was made from light steel and had special soundproofing. A magazine at the time described its look as "modern" and "bold." The cinema could seat 410 people, with seats on the ground floor and a balcony. The entrance area could also be used as a television studio. The British Film Institute (BFI) managed the cinema and its programs.

Even though the BFI and festival papers called it the "Telecinema," the name on the building itself was Telekinema.

What Was Shown at the Telecinema?

The Telecinema was the first cinema in the world built to show both movies and television. It aimed to make the audience feel more involved in what they were watching.

One special feature was a screen without borders, which made the picture seem to float. It also used multiple soundtracks. Sound came from many speakers around the screen and in the audience area. This created a more realistic sound experience. J.D. Ralph and R.J. Spottiswoode were in charge of the shows. They put together a program that included a main film, many documentaries, experimental films, and four special 3-D movies.